Less than 1% of EU potatoes grown in Ireland – Eurostat

Ireland produced only 0.6% of the EU’s potatoes (in 2014) while Germany at 19.7% was the EU’s biggest potato producer, according to latest figures on the potato sector from Eurostat.

In fact only 1% of arable land in Ireland is now devoted to potato growing, compared to an EU average of 1.5% and a high of 15% in the Netherlands.

On a positive note, Irish consumers pay less for potatoes than almost anyone else in Europe. In 2013 (latest EU figs collected), the average cost of a kilo of potatoes in Ireland was €0.47 compared to €1.39 in Luxembourg. Only Poland, Latvia and Lithuania were cheaper.